CRC vs GCA

Right then, that brings an end to our coverage of this European Cricket Series game! Switch tabs and catch all the live action from the final game of the night and while we wait for it to begin, head over to the Indian Premier League where CSK are battling it out with DC. Until next time then, this is the duo of Maanas and Pradeep bidding you adieu! 

Graz Cricket Academy 100/4 (8.5) beat Cricketer CC 97/10 (9.3) by 6 wickets

Waqar Zalmi 33(16) | Hamid Safi 2-2(1)
Shawkat Durani 49(27) | Masharaf Alikhel 1-9(0.5)

They've done the job and they've done it pretty comfortably too! They did not have the best of starts to their tournament, losing their debut game but they've made a magnificent comeback to collect two points on the table. Cricketer CC, who had an exceptional campaign thus far, winning all four matches have tasted defeat for the first time! They were short by at least 20 runs and their batting was just not upto the mark in the first innings, while their bowling failed to pick crucial wickets in the middle overs. 

Despite losing the wicket of Afzal off the first delivery itself, it was Durani and skipper Bharath who stitched together a wonderful partnership to keep the scoreboard ticking. They targeted to hit at least one boundary per over and were happy to take singles and doubles to keep the scorecard ticking. In the end, their partnership proved to be key as they set the foundation for a successful chase! They have registered their first points on the points table and they will certainly be mighty pleased with their performance!

8.5 Masharaf Alikhel to Abidullah Kotwal, FOUR! GAME, SET AND MATCH! Gaz Cricket Academy break the four match winning streak of Cricketer CC. Drops it short on the stumps. Kotwal sits on one knee and swats it over the top of mid-off, runs away and finds the ropes that seals the game.

Abidullah Kotwal, RHB, walks out to the middle. Can he finish the job off this delivery? 

Another one bites the dust while trying to go big! He fails to provide the finishing touches but his boundary was certainly a memorable one! 

8.4 Masharaf Alikhel to Yogesh Belage, OUT! UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Belage went for the glory shot and perishes. Length delivery but fired it wide of off-stump. Belage had to reach but slices it straight up in the air and the backward point fielder makes no mistake.
Yogesh Belage c J Afghan b M Alikhel 4 (2b 1x4 0x6)

8.3 Masharaf Alikhel to Yogesh Belage, FOUR! Wasn't that short but Belage walks into the shot. Heaves it to deep square-leg and picks up a much needed boundary. Just 2 needed now!

8.2 Masharaf Alikhel to Bharath Gowda, good length delivery on the fourth stump. Gowda waits and guides it to short third-man fielder for a quick single.

8.1 Masharaf Alikhel to Bharath Gowda, drops it short, drifting back into the right-hander on the fourth stump. Gowda went back and defends it into the off-side.

Yogesh Belage, RHB, walks out to the middle. He will be at the non-striker's end. 

It's less than well less than a run-a-ball now and surely only formalities remain in this contest! Although Safi loses his wicket while attempting a fancy hoick, he's dragged the target down with two huge maximums. Just 7 more runs needed now! 

7.6 Shadnan Khan to Hamid Safi, OUT! MILES UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Shadnan gets his man in the end. Safi has another wild swing but has skied it straight up. Shadnan settles under it and takes a good catch.
Hamid Safi c&b S Khan 12 (4b 0x4 2x6)

7.5 Shadnan Khan to Hamid Safi, SIX MORE! Short delivery on the middle and leg. Safi hangs back and POWERS it over deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

7.4 Shadnan Khan to Hamid Safi, SIX! BOOM! Length delivery but wide of off-stump. Safi has a wild swing and slices it up in the air, but the wind takes if over the ropes at long-off for a maximum.

7.2 Shadnan Khan to Bharath Gowda, back of a length delivery on the middle and leg. Gowda gets inside the line and swipes it down to fine-leg for one.

7.1 Shadnan Khan to Bharath Gowda, back of a length on the fourth stump. Gowda hangs back to cut but mistimes it down to mid-off fielder for no run.

Hamid Safi, RHB, walks out to the middle. He will be at the non-striker's end. 

Another decent over and Cricketer CC's inability to pick wickets in the middle overs has not given them any sniff at a comeback in this contest. GCA are charging towards a victory and Durani falls one short of what was a well-deserved half century! Perhaps wanted to bring it up in style but perishes in the attempt to do so. Nonetheless, he has done his job.
GCA need 21 runs in 3 overs 

6.6 Waqar Zalmai to Shawkat Durani, OUT! PICKED OUT LONG-ON AND GONE! Huge moment in the game this as Durani departs. Length delivery on the stumps, Durani hammered it but went straight down the throat of long-on.
Shawkat Durani c B Khan b W Zalmai 49 (27b 4x4 4x6)